Rocking grate.



P. CAMERON.

ROCKING GRATE. APPLIGAT IQN FILED OUT.26, 1906.

Patented Oct. 20, 1908.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

ATTORNEYS,

P. CAMERON.

ROCKING GRATE.

APPLICATION FILED MIT. 26, 1906.

901,876. Patented ct.20,1908.v

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ATw/F/VHJ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PETER CAMERON, OF WILLIAMSPORT, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO VALLEY IRON WORKS, OF WILLIAMSPORT, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION.

ROCKING GBATE Specification 01' Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 20, 1908.

Application filed October 26, 1906. Serial No. 340,786.

have invented certain new and useful Rock-' ing Grates, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in the saddles (fingers, clips, or whatever they may be called), of rocking self-cleaning grates, used in connection with saddle-bars and cross-bars to which said saddles are fixed, and to the manner in which the saddle-bars are relatively mounted. In a preferred construction the saddle or cross-bars are pivoted, alternately on high and low centers, causing the saddles, when the bars are oscillated through an arc of a circle, to approach and recede from each other alternately.

Among the objects of my invention are, first, to provide a grate capable of burning the very finest grades of anthracite or bituminous coal, saw-dust, tan-bark, or any fuel which may be all or part in fine or small particles, without loss through leakage between the saddles; second, to afford means of agitating the grates sufficiently to remove the ash as it accumulates, and keep the fire clean while not allowing any unburned particles of the fuel to pass through; and, third, to provide means of dumping the entire charge, or any part thereof, such as clinkers, etc., whenever it may be deemed necessary. An exemplifying form of mechanism, by which I attain these objects is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which H Figure 1 is a side view of one of the saddles used on the high center bar; Fig. 1 a top view of same; Fig. 1 a sectional view of same; Fig. 2, a side view of one of the saddles used on the low center bar; Fig. 2 a top view of same; Fig. 2 a sectional view of same; Fig. 3, a combination of the saddles assembled on the bars and standing vertical, which is the natural position whennotbeing agitated; Fig. 4, the same combination showing the saddles oscillated to the extent of the working position; and Fig. 5, showing the same oscillated to the extent of the dumping position.

while being oscillated. to the trunnions on which the bars oscillate Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The improvement consists in the shape of the ends H and K respectively of the saddles A and B (detailed in Figs. 1 and 2), in conjunction with saddle bars G and D and the peculiar motion imparted to the saddles Thismotion is due (shown dotted at E and F), being located at different heights. This combination of the shape of the ends and the peculiar motion imparted to them, causes them to maintain a constant opening between the saddles while oscillated forward and back to the extent of the working position, as shown in Fig. 4, and also allows them to open to the dumping position shown in Fig. 5, such increased opening being had alternately on each side of each bar, one movement only being shown in Fig. 5.

The adjacent ends of adjoining saddles are to be to a certain extent complemental in shape, or at any rate they are to be shaped so that during the cleaning motion said ends are at all times exactly or approximately the same distance apart, the distance of separation being calculated to give the proper results both in retaining the fuel bed and cleaning out the ash. The shapes of the sad dle ends may be varied within wide limits 'while preserving these characteristics and in this respect I do not limit myself to details.

In order that a representative form of my invention may be made by those skilled in the art, I will now describe one method by which the saddle ends may be conveniently shaped so as to give satisfactory results, but it is to be understood that this method of designing the ends and the specific shape of saddle ends described is only a representative example.

The shapes of the ends of the saddles, as shown in the drawing, are not the true arcs of circles struck from any given radius but are obtained as follows:

(a) Saddle B. By placing the saddles on the saddle bars and the saddle bars being pivoted on their working centers E and F, a pencil or scriber is held by a proper contrivance fastened to saddle A and at the proper distance from saddle A to give the required opening between the saddles, then by oscillating both saddle bars simultaneously while connected together by connecting links G, or some suitable connection, the correct shape for the end will be described on saddle l3.

(1)) Saddle A is constructed in the same manner by fastening the pencil or scriber to saddle B and repeating theoperation the same as in marking saddle B.

The distance to which the bottom point of the ends of the saddles marked'l 'on Figs. 1

and 2 should be carried is determined by locating it at such a point that the upper point of saddle A will follow the end of saddle B to the extent of the working position; the bottom end of saddle B then terminating at this point allows the distance between the saddles to increase very rapidly as the bars are further oscillated toward the full dumping position. The bottom partof the saddle marked 2 Figs. 1 and '2 is struck with a reverse curve of such a radius as to admit this increased opening.

The grates are oscillated 'back and forth by the usual lever andstopped at the proper points for the working position by placing a pin in the fulcrum lever stand. By removing the pin the shaking lever may move a greater distance, allowing the grates to go to the dumping position. The movement of the grates and the termination of their oscillation at the proper working position may, however, be accomplished in various other ways.

Links G are positively pivoted to bars C all of which swing on centers in the same plane, and are pivoted to bars D which swing on different centers by means of pin and slot connections G.

arranged to permit the varying movement of alternate bars, saddles mounted on the bars, the adjacent faces of the saddles in different rows beingdifi'erently and complementally shaped; whereby when the saddles are tilted a moderate distance in either direction, a uniform, narrow space is preserved between the rows, but when they are tilted further in the same direction the space is greatly increased for dumping.

2. Thecombination of two grate bars pivotally mounted at different relative heights, a link for rocking-the bars, the link being connected to one bar by a pivot and to the other by a pin and slot connection, a saddle on each bar, one end of the saddle on the lower pivot bearing being of a generally convex shape and the adjacent end of the other saddle having a complemental, generally-concave shape.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

PETER CAMERON.

Witnesses:

E. C. EDWARDS, G. K. EDWARDS. 

